Whether signing a lease with others or moving in on an existing lease, you need to know what your options are....

Residential Tenancies

Shared Tenancies

This arrangement involves two or more individuals agreeing to share a rental home

Bond Requirements:       each Tenant must pay an equal share of the total bond for the rental home

Legal Obligations:          all Tenants are jointly and severally liable for the rental home and the lease agreement

Notice to Vacate:            all Tenants must enter and exit the rental home at the same time

General Benefits:           communications with the Managing Agent are inclusive of all Tenants; a whole property lease                                        can offer fewer conditions and greater security    

Common Pitfalls:           subject to all Tenants agreeing to the term and conditions of the lease; in the event of a                                                  dispute, it will likely resolve that financial expenses are split equally not necessarily fairly in                                            consideration of the actions of each individual Tenant. all tenants must sign all leases and                                              related documents to make them legally binding, any one tenants actions are considered as                                            all of the tenants

Sub-Let Tenancies

Bond Requirements:    equivalent to two weeks of the rent paid to the Head-Tenant

Legal Obligations:       Sub-Tenants are obliged to honour any Agreements that the Head-Tenant has entered and has                                      made them aware of; Sub-Tenants may be subject to any term or conditions agreed to in the '                                       House Rules'

Notice to Vacate:        a 'fixed term' agreement with the Head-Tenant will define when you can move in and when they                                     must move out; a 'periodic term' agreement allows the Sub-Tenant to end the Tenancy, two                                             weeks after they have given the Head-Tenant written notice of their vacate date

General Benefits:       tenancy application criteria will be reduced or may not apply, flexibility and discretion of                                                   sub-tenancy arrangements; generally not subjected to routine inspections

Common Pitfalls:       Head-Tenant has increased responsibilities, a Sub-Tenant lease can include trivial conditions                                          and offers less security than a whole property lease

Rooming Houses

Lodging Rooms

Bond Requirements: bond is equivalent to two weeks lodgings

Legal Obligations:    Sub-Tenants may be subject to any term or conditions agreed to in the                                                                             'House Rules'; Liability is limited to the individual room and Lodgers actions in the common areas

Notice to Vacate:      a 'fixed term' agreement with the Proprietor will define when the Lodger can move in and when                                       they must move out; a 'periodic term' agreement allows the Lodger to end the Tenancy, two                                             weeks after they have given the Proprietor written notice of their vacate date

General Benefits:     independent lease agreement, lower rent costs, personal belongings and furnishing can be                                            installed/stored in room (with permission of Proprietor), commercial grade furnished common                                          areas, social environment, makes sharing resources accessible

Common Pitfalls:     limited decision about who shares the home, strict application criteria, must furnish own room,                                        metered electricity and gas charges payable, storing of belongings and some behaviour is                                              restricted to certain areas of the property

Boarding/Vacation Rooms

Bond Requirements: bond amount is set by the Proprietor

Legal Obligations:    Sub-Tenants may be subject to any term or conditions agreed to in the 'House Rules'; Liability is                                     limited to the individual room and Lodgers actions in the common areas

Notice to Vacate:      a minimum of one rent period. e.g; if the room is leased on a 'daily charge' then one days notice                                     is required, but if on a 'weekly charge', one week is required, for a 'monthly charge' one month's                                     notice is required, etc.

General Benefits:     independent lease agreement, weekly charge includes utilities, gas, water and internet, no                                            furnishing required (except linen), cleaner attends regularly, meals may also be included by                                            negotiation, commercial grade furnished common areas

Common Pitfalls:     no decision about who shares the home, no application criteria applies, lack of storage space,                                        comprehensive house rules, charged a premium for the convenience, minimal security for lease                                    or property, limited storage space, curfews and service times may apply

Mount Barker Property Management recommends that you seek advice from a Reputed Tenancy Officer prior to entering a Lease Agreement for a shared home. There are both privately owned businesses and government funded organisations that provide information and advice for Residential Tenancies. Some Tenancy Advice Services are free of charge while others may attract a fee.